The Holiday

UK Release Date: 8th December 2006

Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love (www.imdb.com).

Director: Nancy Meyers (Parent Trap, What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give)

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach

The Holiday is a romantic-comedy that's immensely gushy, with a thick layer of cheese. But that's ok, because it works. Yes it envisages a love that's almost circumstantially impossible. It's absurdness that's at least sweet and warm. Two women, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, decide to house-swap for two weeks over the Christmas period. One's in L.A., the other in Surrey (wow, what a comparison). There they meet their retrospective partners. The four main characters, including the charming Jack Black and Jude Law, are very well developed, making it easy to feel their emotions. Regardless of the outcome (and that's easy to grasp from the off), I want things to work out for them. If anything it was nice to see Jack Black in a completely different role to what he's comfortable with, which probably explains why he's so awkward throughout. The Holiday, as much as it's aimed at a certain gender type, can be for all if you just want it to be.

3.5/5